Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

if you can without disturbing them...check out what they are nesting in (wood they might weaken it - bricks you should be right)
some info
http://www.aussiebee.com.au/honeyproduction.html
http://www.sugarbag.net/
http://www.uq.net.au/~zzrzabel/informat ... tsheet.htm

THanks for that mate
No problem with having them as they are in cement blocks... there is a odd piece of wood closing in the top, but its not structural
You should see them swarming around in the evening/late afternoon... quite a few of the little bees

Here is a pic of the bees as they settle down for the night - all you can see it their little head at the entrance to their hive...
The photo on top shows the redclaw tank under which they have moved, the one on the bottom shows the close up - look closely

And here are 2 photos of the barra, just after feeding time...
The evil barra eyes are back!

Had a poke around some of the older GB's in my system yesterday and was so happy to see how there is no blockages or excessive buil-up of solids in my system... The earthworms and bacteria are doing a GRAET job keeping it all clean and functioning well. I will be staying with flood and drain for as long as I do AP... All the expensive prefiltering that some people put in can often be done away with (dependent of the approach people take ofcourse)... not saying that all systems will work like mine, just a big to people who have poo-pooed systems that pump solids into their system growbeds and then claim that they will result in fish deaths...
Balance is required, and in my system we try to let nature 'balance' things and do things naturally... it takes a bit longer, but definately worth it

DAmn, been away for far toooo long again
My system has basically been 'ticking over" for the past few months, not doing much. I had a few barra deaths, some of which were due to power failures (again ) but I still have fish, the redclaw are breeding and the native bees have moved back in again
My system however seems to be doomed
I have a very big tree which steals most of the sunlight, and its just getting bigger! As its on school grounds I cant go in with a chainsaw and 'trim it ' as they would most definitely have me in the principals office if I did... so the system will either slowly die, or I will have to eventually plant only shade loving plants . I guess its a hard lesson to learn then - I should have looked around better a few year back to try and judge how the trees would eventually affect my system.
I guess we all should do the same, look at the area we wish to set up our system and try picture how it will be affected and change in the following years by either plant growth (such as trees) or by developments in the area... They are awkward to move once established, especially when you have a slightly complicated system such as mine... hmmm, wonder if they would notice a one inch hole drilled at the trees base, filled with glyphosate .

Well, one of my students has indicated that he would like a system at home... so I will be decomissioning one of my IBC's to donate to him, and donating some blue barrel GB's as well... and seeing as he that eager, I will also be giving him most of my spare gravel fro the growbeds as well (but he will have to wash the stuff ) ... I needed to make a smaller system as I no longer live behind the school... he is dead eager and I have had his father over to look at the system and talk him through how it all works... I got the impression that he liked the simplicity of it all

That is very kind of you to share AM! A true mentor to many

Good stuff AM...

Hi. I was wondering whether i can contact AQUAMAD somehow. Does he still watch this thread? I am in Myanmar working for a charity and have been wondering whether red claw might be a viable venture over here. I am quite interested in the tank system just to get things started. If AQUAMAD is out there you and would like to contact me you can do so at "arogers AT myanmarkids DOT org".

Thanks
Andrew